Chapter 95

Vishnu Smriti 95

A vānaprastha (वानप्रस्थ) shall emaciate his body with austerity (tapas (तपस्)). // Vi_95.1 // In summer, he shall be one who endures five fires. // Vi_95.2 // In the rainy season, one who sleeps under the open sky. // Vi_95.3 // In winter, one who wears wet clothes. // Vi_95.4 // He shall eat only at night. // Vi_95.5 // Or he may eat every second, third, or fourth day. // Vi_95.6 // He may eat flowers. // Vi_95.7 // He may eat fruits. // Vi_95.8 // He may eat vegetables. // Vi_95.9 // Or he may eat leaves. // Vi_95.10 // Or he may eat barley-gruel once at the end of a fortnight. // Vi_95.11 // Or he may subsist on lunar penances. // Vi_95.12 // He may pound his food with a stone. // Vi_95.13 // Or use his teeth as a mortar. // Vi_95.14 //

This entire world of gods and men has austerity (tapas (तपस्)) as its root, / Austerity as its middle, and austerity as its end; and by austerity it is thus supported. || Vi_95.15 ||

What is hard to practice, what is hard to obtain, what is distant, and what is difficult to do, / All that is achievable by austerity (tapas (तपस्)); for austerity is indeed insurmountable. || Vi_95.16 ||